Arkansas Hosts No. 4 South Carolina This Weeke

BY ANDRES FOCIL

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The Arkansas Razorbacks will take on the fourth-ranked South Carolina Gamecocks in a three-game series beginning Friday at 6:30 p.m. at Baum Stadium.

Arkansas (15-11, 2-5 SEC) is coming off a 7-4 victory over Southwest Missouri State Wednesday in Springfield. The Razorbacks look to snap a three-game losing streak to the Gamecocks who swept the Hogs in Columbia last year.

South Carolina (24-6, 6-3 SEC) has won three straight including two against Alabama last weekend in Columbia. The Gamecocks defeated Wofford 11-0 Wednesday night.

The Razorbacks own a 14-12 record in the series history with South Carolina, including an 8-3 mark in Fayetteville.

Gary Hogan, Jr., will take the mound for the Hogs in Friday’s series opener. Hogan is 2-2 on the year and has a 3.38 earned run average.

South Carolina will send a trio of left-handed pitchers to the mound to battle the Razorbacks this weekend. Gary Bell will get the starting nod for the Gamecocks in game one. Bell brings a 5-1 record and a 3.97 ERA in Friday’s contest.

On Saturday, the Razorbacks send Jarrett Gardner to the hill in his first start of the season. Gardner has been used primarily as the Hogs’ closer this season and has recorded three saves. Gardner is 0-0 and has a 2.96 ERA.

South Carolina is slated to throw David Marchbanks who brings a 6-2 record and a 2.96 ERA into the weekend.

The Gamecocks’ Steven Bondurant will pitch in Sunday’s series finale. Bondurant is 4-0 this season and has a 2.17 ERA. The Razorbacks have not designated a starter for Sunday’s contest.

The Razorbacks are 5-3 against left-handed pitching this season and have a .276 batting average against southpaws.